Outdoor Recreation

If the March showers bring us enough rain, then we’re off to paddle the beautiful waters of Clear Creek. This is a fantastic destination for beginner paddlers looking for something a bit more challenging than the Hiwassee. The consistent elevation drop and exciting turns through the boulders make for an exhilarating day on the river. Experience is necessary and a solid roll is a must. This trip is limited to the first 6 people who sign up. Estimated trip duration: 7 am to 10 pm.

Note: There will be two pool sessions available to participants of this trip to work with kayak instructors on your roll prior to the trip. Participation in at least one of these sessions is mandatory: Wed. March 19 or Wed. March 26 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm.

This trip will involve hiking a 9.6-mile loop of the pretty difficult, yet rewarding Fiery Gizzard Trial. Highlights will include cascading streams, waterfalls, and panoramic overlooks. Hiking boots are advised for this very rocky trail.

Join the VU Outdoor Rec. Program as we head to the mid-west climbing location of Jackson Falls, IL. This trip will offer participants the opportunity to test their climbing skills on bullet hard sand stone cliffs. We will depart Friday night to camp out and spend the duration of our Saturday climbing. Jackson Falls offers a plethora of climbing styles to push your prowess and abilities. Price includes all technical climbing gear, instruction, group camping gear, transportation and food while on site. Climbing shoe rental is $5.50 extra. ***Note: Participants should be able to comfortably climb 5.8*** Estimated trip duration: 5 pm Fri. – 11 pm Sat.

The Piney River is only a little over an hour away, west of Nashville. We will paddle a scenic 6.6 mile section of this Class I river. Highlights include rock walls and spectacular bluffs. This is a great trip for beginner paddlers. Estimated trip duration: 8 am – 6 pm.

Located less than an hour away, the JuRo Stables will provide us with a 1.5-hour horseback ride. We will ride on wooded trails, across creeks, and possibly to Percy Priest Lake. Check out their horses at www.jurostables.com. After the ride, we will have a picnic lunch at a nearby park before returning to VU. The tip for the guides is included in the trip fee. Estimated trip duration: 9 am – 2 pm.

At points during our hike along the north side of the lake we have noticed trash washed up on the former shorelines from the summer before. By canoeing around the lake, we can stop and pick up trash, using the canoes to do the hauling. This is a nice area worthy of our time. Beginners are welcome. All paddling equipment is provided. Estimated trip duration: 8 am – 6 pm.

Short Springs is a small 420-acre State Natural Area that includes rich woods, forest ravines, low cascades, springs, and big, beautiful waterfalls. We will hike the 4.2 mile moderately difficult trail and hang out at the waterfalls. If time allows, we will hike the 2.6 mile trail at the nearby Old Stone Fort State Park. Estimated trip duration: 8 am – 6 pm.

This coming summer the Outdoor Rec. team is headed to western Canada to spend a week climbing in what is considered the recreation capital of Canada. We will fly into Seattle, WA, and drive 3.5 hours north to our campground at the foot of the Stawamus Chief (The second largest granite monolith in North America!). Squamish boasts a myriad of climbing areas that range from single pitch sport and trad, to towering 2000+ ft. multipitch climbs, and world class bouldering. Join our team as we venture north to this haven of granite to test our mettle on some of the globe’s best climbs! Prior climbing experience is required and participants should be able to comfortably climb 5.7 slab, face, and crack climbs to get the most out of this experience. More details are available at www.vanderbilt.edu/outrec.

This trip is limited to 6 participants, SO DON’T DELAY TO SIGN UP!!! You will need a passport for this trip. Cost includes: vehicle transportation, food while camping, group equipment, climbing gear (except shoes), camping and entrance fees, lodging for the last night. Cost does NOT include: Airfare to and from Seattle. Participants must purchase their own tickets. Specific travel times will be discussed at our first Pre-Trip meeting.

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To sign up for a trip, come to the Outdoor Recreation Center (ORC), located on 2600 Children’s Way, kind of behind the Student Rec. Center, and pay a deposit or the full amount of the trip. The ORC accepts cash, check, and the Vanderbilt Commodore Card. For more info on trips, workshops, and equipment rentals, check out the web at www.vanderbilt.edu/outrec.